He also seemed to offer an acknowledgement of historic wrongdoing by the party, saying he wanted to see a renewed focus on economic development like that of a century ago – but “this time” without sectarian bias.

Mr Nesbitt had turned up to cheer Mr Kinahan at the Valley Leisure Centre next to loyalist Rathcoole, as the votes were officially revealed at around 2am on Friday.

“All politics is cyclical,” he told the News Letter.

“And we feel that last year the wheel started to turn back our way. And what Danny has done tonight has given it another nudge.”

Mr Nesbitt said that backing the Good Friday Agreement (including “painful” measures such as early releases for paramilitaries and reform of the police) had been “right for Northern Ireland” in 1998.

He added; “We did it, while the DUP stood at the gates. If they’d come in to the agreement, we’d have had a better agreement.

“They profited politically – on a party political basis –, from that. And we suffered for it.

“But that phase has gone and that chapter has been closed. Now we’re looking at the wheel turning back our way.”

Party leader Mr Nesbitt said: “I think what unionist people what is political leaders who will stand up and be strong in defending, promoting and advancing the union – but at the same time, be fair to everybody. That’s what I want to be.

“I want us to start talking about serious wealth generation, the way we used to 100 years ago. But this time, to make sure everybody gets their share; not to be sectarian or biased about it.

“And people are looking I think for liberal, progressive politicians who are now going to put a focus on the economy, the education of our children, on our health service and on good, decent housing for all our people.”

Asked if Mr Kinahan’s election was an endorsement of socially-liberal unionism, he replied: “I would like to take it as that.”

He was speaking shortly before news came in that a second UUP MP – Tom Elliott – had been elected to the Commons.

Mr Elliott is generally seen as sitting more towards the conservative end of the party, and was standing as part of a UUP-DUP pact in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

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